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Dylan swallowed. “I really fucked up by not being there. I’m sorry.”
She pulled out another scrapbook, this one of Isla’s toddler years. Dylan was absorbed by the photographs, of Isla’s first trip to the zoo, earning her first swim badge, of her holding an ice cream cone, half of which was smeared all over her face.
&n
bsp; “Will she want to meet me, do you think?”
Meghan looked at him carefully. It was so weird having him here in her apartment after all these years. “Yes, she will. She asks about you a lot, especially since she started school and saw that most of the other kids have dads in their lives in one way or another. She’s an open, loving kid. She’ll want to know all about you.”
He looked down at his hands, twisting them as he pressed his lips together. “I have to go back to L.A. tomorrow night. There are things we need to do for the tour, and I know it’s easier for Ger to guard us there.” His eyes flickered to the bodyguard standing by the door. “I’d really like it if you and Isla could come, too. Assuming she’s ready to meet me.”
Megan’s eyes widened. “You want us to come to L.A.?”
“Just for a few days. I’d like to spend more time with Isla before I leave the country. I have a big house in the hills, it’s secluded and safe. There’s a pool that Isla will love, and enough guest rooms to house a crowd of people.” He looked up, his eyes pleading. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but the thought of leaving without getting to know my kid…Especially now that I have the chance…” He shook his head. “I don’t like it.”
“I have a shop to run. I can’t just leave.”
“Would you be able to find somebody to manage it for a few days? I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
Meghan’s mind was whirling. A few hours ago she was heading to an art show, and now she was talking about whether she could spare the time to go to L.A. with a rockstar. “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “It’s possible.” And she’d always said she’d let Isla build a relationship with her father if he wanted one. It wasn’t Isla’s fault he was leaving the country in a few days. She deserved to know her family, after all.
Dylan nodded. “Understood. I’ll do whatever you need to make it work. Just tell me and I can arrange for money or staff or anything else.” He looked over at his bodyguard. “Ger, can you help with that?”
“Yep.”
The sound of the elevator pinging made the bodyguard tense his shoulders. With his hand on his gun, he looked out of the peephole, then opened the door. Meghan’s mouth was dry as she saw Rich walking out of the elevator, his jacket slung over his shoulder, his hair crumpled as though he’d been raking his hands through it.
“Your neighbor?” he asked Meghan.
He was so much more, but Ger didn’t need to know that. “Yes, Rich Martin. It was his sister’s show at the gallery.”
Rich’s eyes caught hers through the gap in the door. Meghan stood without thinking, walking toward him. The bodyguard didn’t move, standing between them like a chaperone at a school dance.
She could feel her heart thumping against her chest. “Hi,” she said, breathless. “Did the show finish okay?”
“It was fine.” He shifted his feet. He still looked amazing in his suit, even if he wouldn’t catch her eye.
“And Belle? Was she happy? She sold a lot of paintings.”
“She was. She’s home in bed now.”
The bodyguard moved smoothly from between them and walked over to where Dylan was sitting at her kitchen table, pulling a chair out and speaking softly to him. Rich glanced over her shoulder, watching them, his expression unchanging.
“Um, I guess tonight isn’t going to happen.” She pulled her lip between her teeth. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” The same, low tone. “I have to get some sleep. I have night shifts next week.”
“Can I see you tomorrow?” she asked. It was like somebody had switched off the connection between them. She wanted to press at it until it came back on.
“Hey, Meghan, do you think you’ll be ready to leave for L.A. by the afternoon?” Dylan called out. “Ger’s trying to arrange the logistics.”
Rich’s jaw twitched. “You’re going to L.A.?”
“For a few days.” Was it possible for a heart to beat this fast? She felt like it was going to hammer right out of her ribcage. “Just so Isla and Dylan can get to know each other.”
“Right.” He nodded. “Of course.” He stepped backward. “I should go. It sounds like you have a lot to organize.”
“Rich,” she said, reaching out for his wrist. He flinched away and it felt like a slap to her face. “Are you okay?”
